Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Poets and Poems: R.S. Thomas’s “Poems to Elsi”

R.S.
Thomas (1913-2000) was an Anglican curate and rector, a Welsh nationalist, and,
as it turned out, an extraordinarily fine poet. Born in Cardiff, he spent most
of his life and career in Wales. In 1940, he married Mildred (Elsi) Eldridge,
and they were married more than half a century until her death in 1991.

If
one had considered the couple in 1940, one would have expected Elsi to be the
one who would achieve fame and notice. She was an artist, trained at the Royal
Academy of Art and already recognized for her work. He would not publish his
first book of poems until 1946, six years later. Their relationship has
prompted much speculation as to how close they really were and whether Thomas’s
troubled relationship with his mother affected his marriage.

And
then we have the poems, the poems he wrote to and for Elsi. They provide a deep
insight into not only the Thomas marriage but, like poems have a tendency to
do, into all marriages.

A Light Shining

Dancing Priest

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Professional writer exploring faith and culture, life and work; happily married to Janet, the love of my life; father of two grown sons. Award-winning speechwriter and communication consultant. I am also a contributing editor for The High Calling and for TweetSpeak Poetry. I am also the author of the novels "Dancing Priest" and "A Light Shining," and the non-fiction book "Poetry at Work."